A/N: I don't suppose a heartfelt apology will suffice for my neglect, and I really have no excuse...aside from work and writer's block...and my recent game obsessions. Once again, a big shout out to all of you and to Erudite for his support and help.

Enjoy. We're still in the past, about a year and a half since Chrom took the throne. Originally, I was going to work in Frederick, but that didn't work out.

First

"Chrom, I promise you the city isn't going to blow away."

Sumia's words shook all thoughts from his mind and managed to leave it in a fog. Turning around, he found her sitting on a blanket laid out on the grass, arms folded and a small smirk on her face.

"W-what?" Chrom murmured as he scrambled to recall what he was doing at that very moment. Sumia only shook her head and giggled.

"I asked you to come and sit down, and you just stared off." Slowly, the haze began to lift. An earlier conversation echoed in his ear; plans for an afternoon picnic. With a sheepish grin on his face, Chrom sat beside her, heat filling his cheeks at his forgetfulness. "It is beautiful from here though," Sumia added.

"Yes, it is," Chrom nodded. From afar, Ylisstol never looked more majestic. Mighty walls of white stone rose high around the city, much like the reports and papers surely piling up on his desk. A low hum passed his lips, and he scratched his chin. Had the yields from the southern farms improved? Was it timber or stone the builders requested to fortify the border? What about the land dispute between House Rigwald and House Lagdou?

"Gods above, you're doing it again!" One glance over his shoulder made Chrom grimace. Eyes lacking their usual sparkle stared at the ground, and the scowl she wore reminded him of small clouds over the sun.

"I'm sorry, Sumia," he said with a sigh, "I know it's supposed to be just you and me today. It's just the kingdom..."

One cold, chilling sigh froze any other words on his tongue.

"The kingdom always has to come first," she all but spat, and Chrom's mouth dropped open. Of all the tones he ever expected to hear in his wife's voice, resentment was not one of them. No sooner had she spoke, however, then her expression grew soft, contrite even. "I didn't mean it like that," she sighed. Her face turned a humbled shade of red. "I'm proud of all you've done, Chrom. I truly am."

Chrom could only shrug, still reeling from her outburst, "But?"

"Well..." Sumia began, her face turning a shade redder, "can't a king put...other things first once in a while? Just forget I said anything," she added with another sigh.

"But-"

"It's nothing, Chrom," her words came too quickly for his liking. Sumia reached for the basket beside her, "come on. These boar ribs won't eat themselves." She pulled one from the basket and handed it to him before taking one for herself. The tantalizing scent of pepper and ground mustard set his mouth to watering, but Chrom did not take even a bite.

Other things; whatever could Sumia have meant by that? Oh, he tended to forgo meals and occasionally sleep, but was that enough to cause such an outburst? Whatever it was, it was not as trivial as she would have him think; of that he was certain. What could she have meant, and why did she mention the kingdom?

Something, some awareness deep within his mind snapped, forcing a groan out his mouth. If men were measured by idiocy, he would reach as high as the palace towers. How many times had he put Ylisse before her? If he were to list them all, he would need an entire inkwell; the meals she took without him, the days he gave barely a moment to her, all the nights she went to sleep and then awoke to a cold bed.

"Damn," Chrom uttered, balling his fist and pounding the blanket.

"What? What is it?"

He turned towards her, "Oh Sumia, I am such an idiot."

"Chrom…"

"I've done nothing but ignore you for over a year now."

Sumia shook her head, "the kingdom needed you." Did it? Of all those occasions, how many could have waited? That thought grieved him the most.

"You did too. What can I do, Sumia? How can I make it up to you?" To his surprise, a small but teasing smile appeared on her face.

"Actually, there is something you can do."

"Name it."

"I don't think I can eat all of this myself," she said, lifting the basket. A small moment of silence went by as Chrom took in her words, but before long, a similar smile appeared on his face. He could not keep himself from laughing, and Sumia joined in.

"Tell me you love me, Chrom."

He leaned in, kissing the corner of her mouth, "I love you, and I'm going to do much better. I promise."

"Let's just have our picnic first." With a nod, he kissed her again and put Ylisstol and all its troubles to his back. Today was not a day for the concerns of the realm. No, today was a day to relish in the simple pleasures; the sun overhead and the sweet smell of freedom on the summer breeze. More importantly, it was a day to put the woman he loved first as she deserved.